Glamour Online | February 11, 2016
Exclusive! Glowy Skin Secrets From the
Newest Maybelline Girl
By Katheryn Erickson
Quick, name your favorite Maybelline girl: Christy? Jourdan? Gigi? Adriana? One thing we can all agree on is that being the face of Maybelline is an incredibly big deal—and a new announcement doesn't come around too often.
The latest to earn the title: the very gorgeous, very lovable Tanzania-born beauty—and Glamour favorite!—
Herieth Paul. To celebrate the news (and kick off New York Fashion Week), Herieth paid a visit to the Glamour offices to chat about everything from her best DIY skin serum (seriously—she makes one in her kitchen; recipe below) to her philanthropic plans—all while trying on the latest Maybelline lipstick shades. Listen in.
Congrats on the new job! We have to ask: Who's your favorite Maybelline girl?
I can't decide—it's between Christy Turlington and Jourdan Dunn. Christy is such a strong beautiful woman. She's a mom and she helps charities—she's just an icon. Jourdan is also a mom and is doing her thing to help others.
What about your all-time beauty icons?
My mom. She has this naturally rosy, peachy color in her cheeks. Her skin is little bit lighter than mine and it comes out when she's blushing or she's cold. It's so beautiful on her; it makes her face look like sunlight. Oh, I also love Beyonce!
You'll get to play with a lot of makeup in your new role. What's your go-to look?
I love a red lip, especially if I'm going out with friends. And a ton of mascara on my top lashes—specifically Maybelline Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara. I bring it everywhere I go. I'll apply five coats because I have really thin lashes, and I have to do a lot to get the look that I like.
What about your hair—is this short look your signature?
Whenever I go on vacation I like to change up my hair—I'll braid it or get dreads—but my favorite is just keeping it short and curly. I have this olive oil gel—it's called EcoStyler Gel. I buy it at the drugstore, and it's the best thing ever. I use a little bit of it after I wash my hair in the morning. I just rub it in, and that's it!
Tell us your best beauty moment ever.
I know this sounds so childish, but it would have to be my prom. I did my own makeup. I wore false lashes, pink cheeks, a nude lip, and I highlighted a little bit. I looked so beautiful. I watched Jaclyn Hill YouTube videos to learn how to do the lashes. It took me hours, but I finally did it right. Everyone asked who did my makeup, and I was like, "I did it myself!"
And standout looks from your runway work?
Last season I did the Balmain show, and they styled my hair into a high ponytail. I hadn't seen my hair in a ponytail for so long. They had to straighten it—it took three hours and I had three people straightening it. Then I got this beautiful cat eye and nude lips.
Are you noticing more diversity at castings and on the runway now?
I have. When I first started modeling in 2011, there were very few darker-skinned girls. Now I see girls from all over the world. You see Asian girls, Indian girls—you see every kind of girl. I feel like it's getting better—we're not there yet—but I see a change. There's still some work to be done!
On the topic of Fashion Month, how do you keep your skin so perfect while enduring so many makeup changes backstage?
I go to my facialist (Skin by Mamie) every week. She has all of these amazing clients with darker skin. My skin scars very easily, so I need someone who is experienced with my skin type. I also watch a lot of YouTube videos and create my own products. My favorite has to be making my own serums: I buy hyaluronic acid—I get a food-grade version on Amazon and mix it with distilled water and lavender oil, and I use it every day. The trick with hyaluronic acid is it keeps the moisture in your skin, especially in the winter. My skin is always so dry—I literally recommend this recipe to everyone. I keep it in the fridge and it turns into a gel. After a week, I toss it out and make a fresh batch. When I used to buy serums, there were ingredients I didn't want. So I thought, "Why don't I just make my own?" Maybe one day I can take it into production.
Any tricks for staying refreshed?
I have to get at least 10 hours of sleep or it's not a good day! Seriously, I go to bed at 8 P.M. I know it sounds stupid, and most of my friends love going out, but I have to get a lot of sleep. If I don't, it shows up on my skin and under my eyes. When I wake up in the morning. I feel like my face has a natural glow.
You're passionate about education and you'd like to build a school someday—can you tell us about that?
When I grew up in Tanzania, I went to school with kids who were blind and deaf, and we were all in one class. There wasn't a different class or teacher for them, so they didn't learn anything. I'm hoping to organize a school to train teachers to help children with disabilities. It's my future goal. I want to move back to Tanzania and do that eventually.
What about your philanthropic work now?
My mom has had an orphanage since I was born. All the girls she helped have graduated My mom has had an orphanage in Tanzania since I was born. All the girls she helped have graduated high school and now they’re going to college. My mom and I have organized to take a percentage of my income to send them to school. We’re paying for university, bus fare, books…everything they need, we’re taking care of it. It’s such a small contribution and it makes a big difference in their life.
all glamour.com
